Sensor arrangement using rfid units

Abstract

A sensor arrangement suitable for determining a condition. A first RFID-unit and a second RFID-unit are subjected to the condition. The second RFID-unit is at least partly provided with a degradation unit having such properties that, when subjected to the condition, the second RFID-unit is functionally degraded to a greater extent than the first RFID-unit. A sensor arrangement product includes at least one sensor arrangement.

1 . A sensor arrangement suitable for determining a condition, the sensor arrangement comprising:
 a first RFID-unit and a second RFID-unit being subjected to said condition, wherein the second RFID-unit comprises a degradation unit having such properties that, when subjected to said condition, the second RFID-unit is functionally degraded to a greater extent than the first RFID-unit.   
   
   
       2 . The sensor arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the degradation unit comprises a substrate including at least one of paper, fabric, plastics, or wooden material. 
   
   
       3 . The sensor arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the second RFID-unit is substantially embedded within the degradation unit. 
   
   
       4 . The sensor arrangement according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a support arranged to support the first RFID-unit and the second RFID-unit.   
   
   
       5 . The sensor arrangement according to  claim 4 , wherein said support comprises a fastener configured to attach said arrangement to an object. 
   
   
       6 . The sensor arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the first RFID-unit and the second RFID-unit are arranged relative to each other such that, when activated, interference between said first RFID-unit and said second RFID-unit is at an acceptable level. 
   
   
       6 . (canceled) 
   
   
       7 . The sensor arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein said condition comprises at least one of the following: moisture, temperature, pressure, or chemical contamination. 
   
   
       8 . A sensor arrangement product, comprising:
 a set of sensor arrangements according to  claim 1 , said set of sensor arrangements being removably connected to each other.   
   
   
       9 . The sensor arrangement product according to claim  8 , wherein said set of sensor arrangements are arranged in an N×M-matrix configuration, N and M being positive integers. 
   
   
       10 . The sensor arrangement product according to  claim 9 , wherein the N×M-matrix is an N×1-matrix. 
   
   
       11 . A method for determining a condition, the method comprising:
 determining a difference in performance of a first RFID-unit and a second RFID-unit, said first RFID-unit and said second RFID-unit being subjected to said condition, the second RFID-unit being functionally degraded to a greater extent than the first RFID-unit due to said condition; and   establishing said condition on the basis of said determined difference.   
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein determining the difference comprises determining a difference between a first response signal generated by the first RFID-unit and a second response signal generated by the second RFID-unit. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the difference between the first response signal and the second response signal is based upon the amplitude of said signals. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein determining the difference comprises determining the difference between the activation energy of the first RFID-unit and the activation energy of the second RFID-unit. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 presenting and/or storing the established condition.   
   
   
       16 . A communication device for determining a condition, the communication device comprising:
 a communication unit configured to communicate with a sensor arrangement according to  claim 1 , and   a calculating unit configured to calculate a difference in performance of the first RFID-unit and the second RFID-unit, and   a unit configured to establish said condition.   
   
   
       17 . The communication device according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a unit configured to determine a difference between a first response signal generated by the first RFID-unit and a second response signal generated by the second RFID-unit.   
   
   
       18 . The communication device according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a unit configured to determine means for determining the difference between the activation energy of the first RFID-unit and the activation energy of the second RFID-unit.   
   
   
       19 . The communication device according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a unit configured to present and/or store the established condition.   
   
   
       20 . The communication device according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a unit configured to determine the distance between the communication device and an object, and/or   a unit configured to optically identifying information provided at an object.   
   
   
       21 . A system, comprising:
 a sensor arrangement according to  claim 1 , and   a communication device comprising a communication unit configured to communicate with the sensor arrangement, calculating unit configured to calculate a difference in performance of the first RFID-unit and the second RFID-unit, and a unit configured to establish said condition.   
   
   
       22 . (canceled) 
   
   
       23 . The method for manufacturing a sensor arrangement product according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 printing on a substrate with a printing press the sensor arrangement comprising a set of sensor arrangements each comprising a first RFID-unit and a second RFID-unit being subjected to said condition, wherein the second RFID-unit comprises a degradation unit having such properties that, when subjected to said condition, the second RFID-unit is functionally degraded to a greater extent than the first RFID-unit, said set of sensor arrangements being removably connected to each other.   
   
   
       24 . A computer program product, comprising:
 a computer readable medium; and   computer readable instructions recorded on the computer readable and executable by a processor for performing a method comprising determining a difference in performance of a first RFID-unit and a second RFID-unit, said first RFID-unit and said second RFID-unit being subjected to said condition, the second RFID-unit being functionally degraded to a greater extent than the first RFID-unit due to said condition, and establishing said condition on the basis of said determined difference.   
   
   
       25 . (canceled) 
   
   
       26 . (canceled) 
   
   
       27 . The sensor arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the first RFID-unit and the second RFID-unit are arranged relative to each other such that said first RFID-unit and said second RFID-unit are subjected to substantially the same condition.